The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says a Clark County couple has been indicted in a rash of thefts that stripped copper wire from highway lighting systems, including some in Grant County.The cabinet said in a statement that a Franklin County grand jury handed down an 89-count indictment on Monday against Aaron Ferguson and his wife, Cindy Ferguson.“Theft of copper wire from highway lights has caused millions of dollars in damage – damage that far exceeds the value of the wire when it is sold for salvage,” Kentucky Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “It’s a double loss to taxpayers because the cost of repairing our lighting systems takes away from other maintenance responsibilities of the Transportation Cabinet.”The statement says the charges stem from information developed after the cabinet offered a $2,500 reward in the case.The indictment notes 22 incidents in 2014 in which copper wire was taken from lighting systems on interstates and parkways in Grant, Bath, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Laurel, Nelson, Scott and Woodford counties.The crimes occurred on Interstates 64, 65, 75 and 265 and the Bluegrass Parkway, authorities said.Aaron Ferguson was already in jail on unrelated charges when he was indicted. He was also indicted on 45 counts of being a persistent felony offender.

FRANKFORT, Ky. —

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says a Clark County couple has been indicted in a rash of thefts that stripped copper wire from highway lighting systems, including some in Grant County.

The cabinet said in a statement that a Franklin County grand jury handed down an 89-count indictment on Monday against Aaron Ferguson and his wife, Cindy Ferguson.

Advertisement

Related Content

“Theft of copper wire from highway lights has caused millions of dollars in damage – damage that far exceeds the value of the wire when it is sold for salvage,” Kentucky Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “It’s a double loss to taxpayers because the cost of repairing our lighting systems takes away from other maintenance responsibilities of the Transportation Cabinet.”

The statement says the charges stem from information developed after the cabinet offered a $2,500 reward in the case.

The indictment notes 22 incidents in 2014 in which copper wire was taken from lighting systems on interstates and parkways in Grant, Bath, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Laurel, Nelson, Scott and Woodford counties.

The crimes occurred on Interstates 64, 65, 75 and 265 and the Bluegrass Parkway, authorities said.

Aaron Ferguson was already in jail on unrelated charges when he was indicted. He was also indicted on 45 counts of being a persistent felony offender.